Shell ejecting mechanism for firearms of break-down type



`May 2, 1961 H. H. SEFRIED u 2,982,044

SHELL EJECTING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS OF BREAK-DOWN TYPE Filed April 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent hice 2,982,044 Patented May 2, 1961 SHELL EJECTING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS OF BREAK-DOWN TYPE Harry H. Sefried II, 94 Prospect St., New Haven, Conn.

Filed Apr. Z, 1959, Ser. No. 803,690

13 Claims. (Cl. 42-47) This invention relates to firearms in general, and to shell ejecting mechanisms in particular.

The shell ejecting mechanism with which the present invention is concerned is of the general type used in breakdown iirearms. Ejecting mechanism of this type is customarily provided on the firearm barrel near its breech end and comprises a spring-powered shell ejector and a sear which releases the ejector when the path of a tired s hell from the barrel chamber is cleared on breaking the action. While prior ejecting mechanisms of this type are generally satisfactory, they leave much to be desired in a few but important respects. Thus, the ejectors in these prior mechanisms are customarily guided for rectilinear motion throughout their ejection strokes and, hence, require for their reliable performance not only accurately oriented guides but also accurate fitting therein, all of which renders these mechanisms rather costly and not well suited for eicient mass production and assembly of their parts. Also, since accurate guidance of these ejectors is relied on for their reliable performance, they are not only liable to jam when dirt or other foreign matter gets to them, but they are also subjected to inevitable wear which in time will adversely affect the reliability of their performance.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide shell ejecting mechanism of this type which is not only of considerably lower cost than these prior mechanisms, but performs more reliably than the latter and even for the full life of the mechanism.

Thus, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide shell ejecting mechanism of this type in which the ejector, rather than being accurately guided for rectilinear movement as heretofore, is given deliberate freedom to move laterally into and from engagement with a shell in the barrel chamber, and the ejector and ejector spring are so arranged that the latter will not only propel the ejector on its ejection or work stroke but will also urge the same laterally into engagement with the shell. With this arrangement, pressure contact between the ejector and shell for unfailing ejection of the latter from the chamber under the full force of the ejector spring is assured at all times, and the ejector requires neither close tolerances in its dimensions nor fitting in the mechanism so that the latter lends itself to eflicient mass production and assembly of its parts at low cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide shell ejecting mechanism of this type in which the aforementioned freedom of the ejector to move laterally is further used to good advantage in retracting the same preferably somewhat prior to the end of its work stroke from engagement with the shell being ejected. With this further arrangement, the work stroke of the ejector may advantageously be rather short so that the ejector will impart to the shell in any event more than adequate inertia to fly completely from the chamber without prolonging its engagement with the shell to the point where the ejector would tend to bind the shell in the chamber sufficiently to prevent its full ejection or even slow down its ejection.

A further object of the present invention is to provide shell ejecting mechanism of this 'type in which, as an alternative, the ejector is not retracted from engagement with the shell being ejected, so that the ejector will, at the end of its work stroke and by virtue of its lateral pressure engagement with the shell under the urgency of the ejector spring as aforementioned, suddenly act as a brake on the shell and stop the same after partial ejection from the barrel chamber for its intended further and complete removal from the chamber by hand.

Another object of the present invention is to provide shell ejecting mechanism of this type in which the ejector is not retracted from engagement with the shell being ejected for the aforementioned partial ejection of the latter from the barrel chamber, and the ejector is near the end of its work stroke forced into even firmer lateral engagement with the shell, thereby to increase the aforementioned brake action of the ejector on the shell after the partial ejection of the latter from the barrel chamber.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shell ejecting mechanism of this type in which a mere pin on the firearm barrel cooperates with the ejector just prior to the end of its work stroke in camming the same from engagement with the shell being ejected for its aforementioned retraction from the latter or, alternatively, in camming the ejector into more firm lateral engagement with the shell for its :aforementioned brake action on the latter after its partial ejection from the barrel chamber.

Another object of the present invention is to provide shell ejecting mechanism of this type in which the ejector is received with a more or less loose tit in a groove in a depending barrel lug with freedom to move therein, within limits, in any direction in the plane of the groove, with a pin on the barrel lug limiting the work stroke of the ejector and also retaining the latter in its groove, and the ejector and its spring are so arranged that the spring will, for the aforementioned lateral engagement of the ejector with the shell prior to and during the ejection of the latter from the barrel chamber, merely tilt the ejector, about a part of the mechanism as a fulcrum, into such engagement with the shell. With this arrangement, there is no need for fitting the ejectors in the mechanisms other than seeing to their aforementioned more or less loose t in their reception grooves, and the ejectors will reliably perform on even relatively wide tolerances in their dimensions and even when showing signs of wear after a long time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide shell ejecting mechanism of this type in which the aforomentioned pins on the barrel lug for limiting the work stroke of the ejector and for camming the ejector from engagement, or alternatively into even firmer engagement, with a shell being ejected, are advantageously combined into a single pin performing these multiple functions.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a firearm embodying the present invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged sections taken on the lines 2 2, 3-3 and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary views, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the same firearm in different conditions;

Fig. 7A is a fragmentary section through a firearm embodying the present invention in a modified manner;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section through a firearm embodying the present invention in another modified manner;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a firearm embodying the present invention in a further modified manner; and

Fig. l is a fragmentary view of a firearm embodying the present invention in still another modified manner.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 7 thereof, the reference numeral 10 designates a firearm having a barrel 12 suitably carried on a forearm 14, a receiver 16 and a stock 18. The present tirearm 10 is of break-down type with its barrel 12 tiltable from tiring position (Fig. l) into shell loading or exchange position (Fig. 7). To this end, the barrelcarrying forearm 14 is pivoted on a joint pin 20 in the forepart 22 of the receiver 16, presently through intermediation of a forearm pivot plate 24 and a barrel lug 26. Thus, the barrel lug 26, being suitably carried by the barrel 12 near its breech end 28, is seated on the joint pin 20 over approximately one-half of its peripheral extent, while the pivot plate 24 is seated in a peripheral groove 30 in the joint pin 20 over part of its peripheral extent.

Provided in the receiver 16 is a conventional firing mechanism, including a trigger 32 with a guard 34 on a trigger plate 36, and a firing pin 38 which is projectable through an aperture 40 in a breech plate 42 for firing a shell s in the barrel chamber 44. The receiver 16 also contains a lock 46 suitably operable into and from interlock with the barrel lug 26 to arrest the barrel 12 in its tiring position (Fig. l) and to release it for pivotal motion into its loading position.

The barrel 12, and presently the barrel lug 26, carries a shell ejector 48 and an ejector Sear 50, as Well as an ejector spring 52. The ejector 48 is adapted to eject a fired shell s from the barrel chamber 44 when the action is suliiciently open (Fig. 7) to permit unobstructed passage of the fired shell rearwardly from the chamber 44. To this end, the sear 50 is normally urged into interlock with the ejector 48 in its cocked position (Figs. 1 and 5), and the sear t) is operable, and is presently automatically operated on opening the action (Figs. 6 and 7), to release the ejector for a shell ejection stroke.

The ejector 48, sear 50 and ejector spring 52 are presently located in a groove 54 in the barrel lug 26 which, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7, is received with a sliding lit in the forepart 22 of the receiver 16. The groove 54 in the barrel lug 26 has, in the present instance, a median plane P in which lies the barrel axis x-x (Fig. 3). The sear 50, which is pivoted on a pin 56 in the barrel lug 26, has a rearward arm 58 with a lock shoulder 60, and a forward arm 62. Interposed between the ejector 48 and the forward arm 62 of the sear 50 is the aforementioned ejector spring 52 which functions to urge the ejector 48 on its ejection stroke and also to urge the scar 5t) into interlock with the ejector, as will be readily understood. For the release of the cocked ejector 48, the joint pin 20 carries a cross-pin 64 which is so angularly disposed that it will cam the sear 50 out of interlock with the ejector when the action has been suiciently opened (Fig. 6) to permit the unobstructed passage of the tired shell s from the chamber 44. In order to lock the joint pin 2t) in the correct angular position of its searrelease pin 64, the joint pin is provided with another crosspin 66 which is keyed in a groove 68 in the forepart 22 of the receiver 16 (Fig. 2). The ejector 48, which is of longitudinal extent, has a rear finger 70 with which to eject the shell s from the chamber 44. The shell s has the customary base rim r which, for the ejection of this shell, is engaged by the rear finger 70 of the ejector 48 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6). In order that the rear finger 70 of the ejector 48 may engage the shell s behind its base rim r when the same is fully chambered (Fig. l), the barrel 12 is there provided with a clearance notch 71. The barrel lug 26 carries a stop pin 72 which extends into, and presently through, an elongated slot 74 in the ejector 48, and serves to limit the ejection stroke of the latter to a fraction of the length of the shell s.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the ejector 48 is, for the ejection of the shell s from the barrel chamber 44, not only spring-urged on its ejection stroke axially of the chamber but is also urged radially of the barrel axis x--x into engagement with the shell s. It is this spring-urged engagement of the ejector 48 with the chambered shell s radially of the barrel axis x-x which goes far in assuring unfailing ejection of the shell under the full force of the ejector spring 52, for it makes for secure and optimum shellejection contact between the ejector and the customarily shallow base rim r of the shell. To this end, the ejector 48, which may have a more or less loose fit in the groove 54 of the barrel lug 26, has freedom to move therein in any direction, within limits, in the median plane P of this groove, and additional spring means may suitably be arranged in this groove to urge the ejector radially into engagement with the shell s. Preferably, however, the ejector spring 52 is so arranged that its force will urge the ejector 48 not only on its ejection stroke axially of the chamber 44, but also radially of the barrel axis x-x into engagement with the chambered shell s.

For an analysis of the effects of the force of the ejector spring 52 on the ejector 48, at least two, and presently three, different conditions of the ejector must be taken into consideration. Thus, the ejector 48 in the tiring position of the barrel 12 (Fig. l) may be spring-urged either against the breech plate 42 directly, or indirectly through intermediation of the base rim r of the fully chambered shell s. Assuming that the ejector 48 is spring-urged directly against the breech plate 42, the ejector will be subjected to a force F1 (Fig. l). Since it is presently an objective that the ejector 48, even in its present restrained condition, be urged laterally into engagement with the shell s, the force F exerted by the ejector spring 52 on the ejector 48 must be so directed that the same cooperates with the force F1 in producing in the ejector a counterclockwise torque (Fig. l) about the center of mass of the ejector, and presently about its center of gravity c because of its homogeneous construction. This is achieved with the present exemplary arrangement of the ejector spring 52, for its force F clearly cooperates with the force F1 in producing in the ejector the counterclockwise torque just mentioned. Moreover, the force F of the ejector spring 52, or at least its component axially of the chamber 44, will urge the ejector on its ejection stroke. This counterclockwise torque will exert itself by tilting the ejector with its rear finger 70 into engagement with the chambered shell s and with its fore end 76 into engagement with the ejector spring 52 which presently extends along the bottom 78 of the groove 54. Hence, on exertion of this counterclockwise torque, the ejector 48 will be subjected to two more forces F2 and F3 (Fig. l) that produce in the ejector a clockwise torque which is, however, canceled by its counterclockwise torque, for the sums of these torques must equal zero in the now restrained condition of the ejector. However, while the ejector 48 is thus restrained, its rear linger 70 will exert on the shell s a reactive force of the same magnitude as and in a direction opposite to that of the force F2. Similarly, the fore end 76 of the ejector 48 will exert on the ejector spring 52 a reactive force of the same magnitude as and in a direction opposite to that of the force F3.

Reference is now had to Fig. 5 which shows the ejector 48 in its second condition. Thus, the action has been opened sufliciently for the ejector 48 to clear the breech plate 42, with the result that the ejector spring 52 has urged the ejector, and with it the shell s, rearwardly to take up the initial play p (Fig. 1) between the ejector and the lock shoulder 60 of the sear 50, so that the ejector is now again restrained by reason of its interlock with the sear (Fig. 5). Among the forces now acting on the ejector 48 is the spring force F, and a force F4 by virtue of the interlock between the ejector and sear. This force F4 cooperates with the spring force F in producing in the ejector 48 a counterclockwise torque (Fig. 5) which will hold the ejector tilted with its rear finger 70 and fore end 76 in yielding engagement with the chambered shell s and the ejector spring 52, respectively. The forces F5 and F6 thus acting additionally on the ejector 48 produce in the latter` a clockwise torque which, in the present restrained condition of the ejector, cancels its aforementioned counterclockwise torque. Thus, the lrear linger 70 and fore end 76 of the ejector 48 bear against the shell s and the ejector spring 52 with reactive forces of the same magnitude as but in directions opposite to those of the forces F5 and F6, respectively.

Reference is now had to Fig. 6 which shows the ejector 48 in its third condition. Thus, the action has been sufficiently opened to release the ejector 48 from interlock with the sear 50, with the ejector free to pass through its ejection stroke under the urgency of its spring 52. Among the forces acting on the ejector 48 on its release from the sear 50 are the spring force F, and a force F7 by virtue of the engagement of its rear finger 70 with the base rim r of the shell s which resists its ejection from the chamber 44 With more or less force F8. These forces cooperate in producing in the ejector a counterclockwise torque (Fig. 6) which will hold the ejector tilted with its rear linger 70 and fore end 76 in yielding engagement with the shell s and the ejector spring 52, respectively. The forces F9 and F10 thus acting additionally on the ejector 48 produce in the latter a clockwise torque which cancels its aforementioned counterclockwise torque. Thus, the rear finger 70 and the fore end 76 of the ejector 48 bear against the shell s and the ejector spring 52 with reactive forces of the same magnitude as but in directions opposite to those of the forces F9 and F10, respectively.

It follows from the preceding that with the explained arrangement of the ejector spring, and especially on applying its force to the ejector directionwise generally as described, the rear finger 70 of the ejector will yieldingly bear laterally against the chambered shell s with some force prior to and during the ejection of the latter with the ejector as desired. Of course, the forces with which the ejector will be urged on its ejection stroke and with which the same will be urged into lateral engagement with a chambered shell may be varied widely to suit different desired ejector actions, by changing some of the factors involved in achieving spring urgency of the ejector on its ejection stroke and also into lateral engagement with a chambered shell. Some of these factors involve the size and shape of the ejector, the magnitude and direction of the spring force and its lever arm with respect to the center of gravity of the ejector, and the fit of the shell in the chamber 44, for example. Insofar as the fit of the shell in the chamber is concerned, the same is desirably relatively loose to permit mechanical shell ejection in the trst place, and assure shell ejection with reasonably forceful, but not overly forceful, ejector springs in the second place. This means, of course, that the force with which the ejector is during its ejection stroke urged into lateral `engagement with a shell being ejected is not of large magnitude, and will ordinarily be of smaller magnitude than the force which urges it into such shell engagement prior to its ejection stroke. Nevertheless, and regardless of the magnitude of this force on the shell during the ejection stroke of the ejector, this force has been found to be highly advantageous and effective in unfailingly ejecting shells by keeping the ejector and the base rim of the shell in secure and optimum ejecting contact with each other.

It also follows from the preceding that the fore end 76 of the ejector 48 will, during the ejection stroke of the latter, slide in the present example on top of the ejector spring 52 while being forced into yielding engagement therewith. Thus, the ejector spring 52, in its present exemplary arrangement on the bottom 78 of the groove 54 in the barrel lug 26, serves as a track for the fore end of the ejector. This track extends generally longitudinally of the barrel chamber and may extend parallel to the barrel axis x-x. The this end, the bottom 78 of the groove 54 in the barrel lug 26 extends longitudinally of the chamber 44, and presently parallel to the barrel axis x-x.

For practical reasons, the ejection stroke of the ejector 48 is desirably relatively short. Thus, in one contemplated mode of operation of the ejector 48 the same is to eject a shell completely from the barrel chamber 44. This may be achieved in some applications despite `a relatively short ejection stroke of the ejector 48. Thus, the ejector, on its brief but quick rearward motion as well as forced lateral engagement with the shell under the action of its spring 52, will quickly and forcefully impart to the shell considerable inertia which in some instances may be adequate for its continued and full ejection even after the ejector has reached the end of its ejection stroke. On the other hand, if the ejection stroke of the ejector 48 were considerably longer, the force with which the same laterally engages the shell being ejected might well bind the latter to the chamber sufficiently to stop its full ejection therefrom.

Reference is now had to Fig. 7A that shows a track arrangement for the ejector 48 which may be preferred to the track-serving ejector spring 52 in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. Thus, the ejector spring 52 (Fig, 7A), while still arranged along the bottom 78 of the groove 54 in the barrel lug 26, is received in a bottom groove 80 in the fore part of the ejector 48 which extends down to the bottom 78 of the lug groove 54, so that this groove bottom 78 in the barrel lug 26 becomes the track.

In accordance with another important aspect of the present invention, the ejector 48 may, prior to the end of its ejection stroke, be retracted from lateral engagement with a shell being ejected, thereby making certain that the shell will be fully ejected from the chamber without being subjected to any brake action from the ejector. This is achieved, in the present example, through cooperation between the stroke-limiting pin 72 in the barrel lug 26 and the slot 74 in the ejector 48. Thus, and as will be observed in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the pin 72 clears the slot 74 when the sear locks the ejector in its cocked position and while the latter is on its ejection stroke, so as then not to interfere with the described spring-urged lateral engagement of' the ejector with the shell in the chamber. However, the pin 72 is so located in the barrel lug 26 that the same will, just prior to the end of the ejection stroke of the ejector 48, be engaged by a cam face 82 of the slot 74 in the ejector (Fig. 7) so that the latter will be retracted vfrom the shell before the ejector reaches the end of its ejection stroke. The cam face 82 is, in the present example, a lower part of the rounded endwall of the slot 74 in the ejector.

With this arrangement, the ejector 48 will over almost its entire, relatively short ejection stroke impart to the shell s inertia which in any event is adequate to throw the shell completely from the chamber with most any desired force, and the ejector will not in the least interfere with the shells exit from the chamber despite its short ejection stroke which is but a relatively small fraction of the shell length. Thus, Fig. 7 shows the shell s shortly after the ejector has retracted from the shell and reached the end of its ejection stroke, and the shell does not stop there but continues its flight clear of the chamber. With this arrangement also, the ejector, under the urgency of a more powerful spring, will assuredly fully eject a shell from the chamber where it would fail to do so if it were not retracted from the shell just prior to the '7 endof its ejection stroke. Offcourse, this latter contingency may well be another contemplated mode of operation of the ejector, involving partial ejection of the shell by the ejector and its complete removal from the charnber by hand. This may be achieved by locating the pin 72 in, or shifting it to, the middle of the adjacent round endwall of the ejector slot 74 (Fig. 7), and otherwise arranging the parts of the ejecting mechanism so that the ejector will at the end of its ejection stroke laterally engage the shell with adequate force to cause the same to come to a stop while still partly in the barrel chamber.

Still another contemplated mode of operation of the ejector calls for partial ejection of shells from the barrel chamber by the ejector and positively controlled stoppage of the shells in substantially the same partially ejected position for their complete removal from the chamber by hand. This is achieved by camming the ejector throughout a linal part of its ejection stroke into rmer lateral engagement with a shell being ejected, so that the ejector will at least at the end of its ejection stroke exert on the shell a brake force which soon will stop the shell. Fig. 8 shows such an arrangement in which the pin 72 is so located in the barrel lug 26 that it will be engaged by a cam face S4 on the ejector which, in the present example, is formed by an upper part of the endwall of the ejector slot 74 that engages the pin 72 throughout a very brief final part of the ejection stroke of the ejector and cams the latter into firmer engagement with the shell. In consequence, the shell presently in the chamber and all subsequent shells will on their ejection be stopped in substantially the same position which may be like or similar to that shown in Fig. 8.

Reference is now had to Fig. 9 which shows a conversion feature of the shell ejecting mechanism. Thus, the stroke-limiting pin 72, instead of being located directly in the barrel lug 26 as in the other forms of the firearm, is carried by a disc 90 in one side of the barrel lug. This disc 90 is turnable to shift the pin 72 into the dottedline position 72a or into the dot-anddash line position 72b which may correspond to the positions of the pin 72 in Figs. 7 and 8, respectively, and the disc 90 may be arrested in either of the pin positions 72a or 72b by being pinned at 92 or 94 to the barrel lug 26. Thus, with the pin in its position 72a (Fig. 9), which corresponds to the position of the pin 72 in Fig. 7, the ejector 48 will just prior to the end of its ejection stroke be retracted from the shell so that the latter will continue its motion completely out of the chamber. Conversely, with the pin in its position 72b (Fig. 9), which corresponds to the position of the pin 72 in Fig. 8, the ejector will through a very brief nal part of its ejection stroke be cammed into rmer engagement with the shell being ejected, with the result that the latter will soon be stopped for its remaining removal from the chamber by hand.

The present ejecting mechanism also lends itself to the ejection of shells or cartridges having, in lieu of a base rim, a base groove 100 (Fig. l0). This requires only a modified rear finger 162 of the ejector 43 which under the urgency of the ejector spring snaps into interlock with the groove 1%.

While in all forms of the iirearm the lateral urge of the ejector into engagement with a shell in the chamber prior to and during the ejection stroke of the ejector is functionally highly advantageous as has been pointed out, it is also highly advantageous from a structural standpoint. Thus` the more or less loose fit of the ejector in the groove in the barrel lug and its freedom otherwise therein requires neither close dimensional tolerances of the ejector nor fitting of the latter in its reception groove. Also, since the ejector in action is tilted into engagement at its opposite ends with the shell and track, the ejector is subjected to inapprcciable wear at the most. Moreover, the ejector will perform reliably despite Wear which may occur after a long time, for the action of the ejector spring will compensate for any wear of the ejector.

The invention may be carried out in other specic ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rearm of break-down type having a tiltable barrel with an axial chamber for a shell with a base shoulder, the combination of an ejector with a head to thrust against the shoulder of a chambered shell for its ejection from the chamber; means on the barrel for mounting said ejector for movement axially of the charnber for a shell ejection stroke and also for movement with its head radially of the chamber into and from engagement with a chambered shell adjacent the base shoulder thereof; a spring urging said ejector on its ejection stroke; and sear means having a lock shoulder between said chamber and spring and being operable to retract the shoulder from said ejector for its release for an ejection stroke, said spring being also arranged to exert on said ejector while locked to said sear shoulder and during an ejection stroke a force yieldingly urging the same with its head radially into engagement with a chambered shell.

2. In a firearm of break-down type having a tiltable barrel with an axial chamber for a shell with a base shoulder, the combination of a track on the barrel longitudinally of and spaced from the chamber; a longitudinal ejector with a head at one end to thrust against the shoulder of a chambered shell for its ejection from the chamber, said ejector extending longitudinally of the chamber and being carried by the barrel between the chamber and track for a shell-ejection stroke axially of the chamber and with freedom to move in any other direction substantially in a plane n which the chamber axis lies; spring means on the barrel urging said ejector on its ejection stroke; a sear having a lock shoulder between said chamber and spring means and being normally urged with its shoulder into interlock with said ejector and operable to release the latter for an ejection stroke; and a stop on the barrel to limit the ejection stroke of said ejector, said spring means being also arranged to produce in said ejector while interlocked with said sear and during an ejection stroke a directional torque yieldingly tilting the same in said plane with its head into engagement with a chambered shell adjacent the base shoulder thereof and with its other end into engagement with said track.

3. 'The combination in a firearm as set forth in claim 2, in which said stop limits the ejection stroke of said ejector to a fraction of a shell length, and there is further provided an element on the barrel cooperating with said ejector prior to the end of its ejection stroke in tilting said ejector from engagement with a shell being ejected.

4. The combination in a firearm as set forth in claim 2, in which said stop limits the ejection stroke of said ejector to a fraction of a shell length, and there is further provided an element on the barrel cooperating with said ejector throughout a tinal part of its ejection stroke in camming said ejector into firmer engagement with a shell being ejected for braking the ejection of the latter at least at the end of the ejection stroke of said ejector.

5. The combination in a rearm as set forth in claim 2, in which said stop limits the ejection stroke of said ejector to a fraction of a shell length, and said stop also cooperates with said ejector prior to the end of its ejection stroke in tilting said ejector from engagement with a shell being ejected.

6. The combination in a rearm as set forth in claim 2, in which said stop limits the ejection stroke of said ejector to a fraction of a shell length, and said stop also cooperates with said ejector throughout a final part of its ejection stroke in camming said ejector into iirmer engagement with a shell being ejected for braking the ejection of the latter at least at the end of the ejection stroke of said ejector.

7. In a firearm of break-down type having a tiltable barrel with an axial chamber for a shell with a base shoulder, the combination of a track on the barrel longitudinally of and spaced from the chamber; a longitudinal ejector with a head at one end to thrust against the shoulder of a chambered shell for its ejection from the chamber, said ejector extending ylongitudinally of the chamber and being carried by the barrel between the chamber and track for a shell-ejection stroke axially of the chamber and with freedom to move in any other direction substantially in a plane in which the chamber axis lies; a compression spring urging said ejector on its ejection stroke; a sear on the barrel having between said chamber and spring a shoulder interlockable with said ejector and being operable to release the latter for an ejection stroke; and a stop on the barrel to limit the ejection stroke of said ejector, said compression spring being so interposed between said ejector and sear as to urge the latter into interlock with the former and also produce in said ejector while interlocked with said sear and during an ejection stroke a directional torque yieldingly tilting the same in said plane with its head into engagement with a chambered shell adjacent the base shoulder thereof and with its other end into engagement with said track.

8. In a firearm of break-down type having a tiltable barrel with an axial chamber for a shell with a base shoulder, the combination of a track on the barrel longitudinally of and spaced from the chamber; a longitudinal ejector with a head at one end to thrust against the shoulder of a chambered shell for its ejection from the chamber, said ejector extending longitudinally of the chamber and being carried by the barrel between the chamber and track for a shell-ejection stroke axially of the chamber and with freedom to move in any other direction substantially in a plane in which the chamber axis lies; a scar with a shoulder on the barrel normally urged with its shoulder into interlock with said ejector and oper-able to release the latter for an ejection stroke; a stop on the barrel to limit the ejection stroke of said ejector; and a preloaded spring on the barrel between said sear shoulder and track and arranged to exert on said ejector a yforce directed substantially longitudinally of the chamber on the side of the center of mass of said ejector away from the chamber to urge said ejector on its ejection stroke and produce in said ejector while interlocked with said sear shoulder `and during an ejection stroke a directional torque yieldingly tilting the same in said plane with its head into engagement with a chambered shell -adjacent the base shoulder thereof and with its other end into engagement with said track.

9. In a firearm of break-down type having a tiltable barrel with an axial chamber for a shell with a base shoulder, the combination of a depending lug on the barrel having a groove with a median plane in which the chamber axis lies with the bottom of the groove extending longitudinally of and being most remote from the chamber; a longitudinal ejector with a head at one end to thrust against the shoulder of a chambered shell for its ejection from the chamber, said ejector being longitudinally received in said lug groove for a shell-ejection stroke axially of the chamber and with vfreedom to move therein in any other direction in said plane; a sear with a shoulder pivotally mounted in said lug groove for interlock of its shoulder with said ejector and for retraction therefrom to release the latter for an ejection stroke; a pin in said barrel lug extending into the groove therein to limit the ejection stroke of said ejector; and a preloaded compression spring in said lug groove between the bottom thereof and said sear shoulder and interposed between said ejector and scar to urge the latter into interlock with the former, and to urge said ejector on its ejection stroke as well as produce in said ejector while interlocked with said sear shoulder and during an ejection stroke a directional torque yieldingly tilting the Same in said plane with its head into engagement with a chambered shell adjacent the base shoulder thereof and with its other end into engagement with said groove bottom.

l0. The combination ina firearm as set forth in cl-aim 9, in which said pin limits the ejection stroke of said ejector to a fraction of a shell length, and said ejector has a slot with one end semi-Circular into which said pin extends with clearance in any position of said ejector except throughout a final part of its ejection stroke when it is engaged by said one slot end,l with said pin located to cooperate with a part of said one slot end in camming said ejector 4from engagement with a shell being ejected prior to the end of the ejection stroke of said ejector.

1l. The combination in a firearm as set forth in claim 9, in which said pin `limits the ejection stroke of saidejector to a fraction of a shell length, and said ejector has a yslot with one end semi-circular into which said pin extends with clearance in any position of said ejector except throughout a final part of its ejection stroke when it is engaged by said one slot end, with said pin located to cooperate with a part of said one slot end in camrning said ejector into firmer engagement with a shell being ejected for braking the ejection of the latter at least at the end of the ejection stroke of said ejector.

12. The combination in a firearm as set forth in claim 9, in which said pin limits the ejection stroke of said ejector to -a fraction of a shell length, and said ejector has a slot with one end semi-circular into which said pin extends with clearance in iany position of said ejector except throughout a final part of its ejection stroke when it is engaged by said one slot end, with said pin being adjustable to cooperate with diferent parts of said one slot end in cammin'g said ejector from engagement with a shell being ejected prior to the end `oit' the ejection stroke of said ejector and in camming said ejector into firmer engagement with a shell being ejected for braking the ejection of the latter at least at the end of the ejection stroke of said ejector, respectively.

13. In a firearm of break-down type having a tilta-ble barrel with a chamber, the combination of a track on the barrel longitudinally of and spaced from the chamber; an ejector member having a shell ejection stroke and being carried by the barrel between the chamber and track with freedom to move in any direction substantially in a plane in which the barrel axis lies; a sear normally urged into interlock with said ejector member and operable to release the latter -for an ejection stroke; spring means on the barrel arranged to urge said ejector member on its ejection stroke and produce in said ejector member a `directional torque holding the same tilted in yielding engagement with said track and with a chambered shell for the ejection of the latter with said ejector member; and a stop member on 'the barrel to limit the ejection stroke of said ejector member to `a fraction of a shell length, one of said members having cam surfaces adapted throughout a final part of the ejection stroke of said ejector member to cooperate with the other member in camming said ejector member from engagement with a shell being ejected prior to the end of the ejection stroke of said ejector member and in camming said ejector member into firmer engagement with a shell being ejected for braking the ejection of the latter at least at the end of the ejection stroke of said ejector member, respectively, and said stop member being adjustable to bring either of said cam surfaces and said other member into cooperative relation with each other.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 763,458 Beach June 28, 1904 1,322,287 Burton Nov. 18, 1919 2,108,130 Lewis Feb. l5, 1938 

